Around 5,000 schools closed amid snow chaos across Britain

• More than 5,000 schools closed
• Heathrow forced to cancel 175 flights
• Two people killed in severe weather
• Severe delays affecting at least eight rail networks
• Closures on A628 and A66 as well as a lane closure on M4

Forecasters predicted freezing temperatures and further snow showers today would add to commuters' woes. This morning ice and snow grounded planes, left roads impassable and caused severe delays to the rail network.

Icy road conditions led to the death of one man in Essex last night while a woman in her 20s was discovered dead having collapsed in the snow.

The wintry weather is also causing chaos in the skies. Heathrow has cancelled 131 flights, about one in ten of the number scheduled for today, while East Midlands airport, Robin Hood airport near Doncaster and Leeds Bradford airport are all closed. Birmingham Airport was also experiencing delays.

National Rail warned anyone travelling by rail today to be braced for another day of delays and cancellations as at least eight rail networks faced severe delays.